Cracker-can-holding device.



No. 804,672. PAI'BNTED NOV. 14, 1905. E. L. REED.

GRAOKBR CAN HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.23, 1904.

Y W ATTO NEY UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed September 23, 1904:. Serial No. 225.612.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVAN L. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Can-Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for supporting the ordinary biscuit cans or boxes of commerce in a manner that will permit taking out the contents, as required from time to time, without removing the cans from the shelves, racks, or cabinets usually provided for their display.

The means especially provided comprise a holder which is removably attached to the hinged cover or lid of the can and hooks or red fixed in the overhead shelf and adapted to engage the holder and secure the can under conditions that will upon the can being drawn forward automatically raise the cover and check the forward and tiltingmovernents of the can.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of shelving containing a can equipped with my device, parts of the shelving being cut away to more clearly reveal the construction and arrangement of the holder and attachment. Fig. 2 is a view showing a portion of the top of a can equipped with my holder.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A and B represent, respectively, portions of upper and lower shelves suitably arran ed and supported for receiving a plurality of cans C of the form shown. These shelves may be parts of a display-cabinet or the ordinary fittings of a store, it being understood that they are so spaced apart as to permit or facilitate the operation of the cans in connection with my invention. The cans are provided with hinged covers 0, which are formed with.

flanges 0 which overlap the upper edges of the cans in the usual way.

The holder shown is a link, as F, which is directly connected with the can-cover, as indicated in Fig. 2. A depression or recess, as

f, is formed in the upper face of the canthe link, it is only necessary to press its ends inwardly until they clear the walls of the depression.

In the under side of the shelf A are inserted hooks e e, one being placed near the front edge and the other near the rear edge of the shelf. The link will be placed in the rearwardly and upwardly inclined position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that as the can is drawn and tilts forward the link will be engaged by the front hook, thus checking the forward movement of the can and limiting the downward movement of the cover, all as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that the rear hook will stop the rearward movement of the can when it is pushed back in place on the shelf, thus permitting the use of skeleton racks-i. 0., those without solid backs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with suitable supporting -shelvcs, and cracker-cans slidably arranged on such shelves and having hinged covers, can-holding means consisting of a link pivot-ally secured to the can-cover near the hinged edge of said cover, said link adapted to lie in a horizontal position and to be adjusted and held in a vertical position, and hooks secured above said can and arranged toengage said link substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with suitable supporting-shelves and cracker-cans slidably arranged on such shelves and having hinged and recessed covers, can-holding means con sisting of a link pivotally secured to the cancover near the hinged edge of said cover, said link adapted to lie in a horizontal position in the recess in said cover, and to be adjusted and held in a vertical position, and a hook se cured above said can and arranged to engage said link when in its vertical posit-ion, for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with suitable supporting-shelves and with cans slidably arranged on such shelves and having hinged covers, can-holding means consisting of a link detachably secured to the upper side of the cover near its hinged end, and means secured to the under side of the shelf above the can said means adapted to engage the link upon the can being drawn forwardly on its supportingshelf, and to limit the movement of the can.

4. In combination with suitable supporting-shelves and with cans slidably arranged on such shelves and having hinged covers, can-holding means consisting of a link detachably secured to the upper side of the cover near its hinged end and arranged midway between its side edges, and means secured to the under side of the shelf above the can and near the front edge of the can, said means and link adapted to engage each other upon the can being drawn forwardly on its supporting-shelf, and to limit the movement of the can.

5. In combination with suitable supporting-shelves and cracker-cans slidably arranged on such shelves and having hinged covers, can-holding means consisting of a link secured to the upper side of the cover near its hinged end and arranged midway between its side edges, said link adapted to be held in a vertical position, and means secured to the under side of the shelf above the can, said means adapted to engage said link and to limit the forward and rearward movements of the can, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EVAN L. REED. 

